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STUDENT QUESTIONS: FOUNDATIONS FOR INQUIRY A Thesis Presented to The Faculty of the College of Education San Jose State University   In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts   by Anthony Cody August, 1998 Copyright 1998; ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Committee members/Advisors: Dr. Sharon Parsons Dr. Karen Reynolds Dr. Sandra Hollingsworth Note: All classroom research was carried out in accordance with ethical standards. Students participated voluntarily, with parental consent. Nonetheless, students names and the name of the school has been changed to protect their privacy. TABLE OF CONTENTS (Page numbers are approximate) Abstract and Acknowledgements Chapter I. Introduction II. Literature Review How Do We Acquire Knowledge? Social Constructivists Target Social Relationships Constructivism and Social Change Inquiry as a Tool for Change What Is "Inquiry" Today? Whose Inquiry? Whose Questions? III. Methodology Overview Arriving at Inquiry Structures for Inquiry Open-ended Inquiry through Investigation Kits Educational Research as Critical Praxis Action Research Data Collection IV. Analysis and Findings Inquiry in Practice Decision-making in Inquiry Investigation Kits Implemented Critical Reflection: Confounded by Reality Changing Strategies: Moving to Guided Inquiry Guided Inquiry into Properties of Dry Ice Comparing Results V. Findings and Implications Multi-faceted Inquiry Implications for Curriculum: Open-ended Inquiry Through Investigation Kits Guided Inquiry Going Further REFERENCES   Page 1   5 7 9 11 13 15   18 18 20 24 25 30 36   37 38 40 42 47 49 53   61 62 64 66 68   Oakland Unified School District